A US woman who shot and killed her husband and two adult children before taking her own life is thought to have committed the shocking crime as a result of being ostracised from the religion she was raised in.

A federal judge sentenced a former Arkansas judge Wednesday to five years in prison — a stiffer punishment than prosecutors recommended — after he admitted giving young male defendants lighter sentences in return for personal benefits that included sexual favours.

Every time I tell a mate I’m doing a story on cryptocurrency, they invariably ask me the same two questions: should they invest their own hard-earned money, and which cryptocurrency will get them a Lamborghini/yacht/island quickest?

In a 60 Minutes online exclusive, reporter Liz Hayes quizzed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his relationship with the unpredictable Twitter aficionado and US president Donald Trump ahead of their meeting at the White House Friday.

Deficit, debt ahead of Tas election

Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings will take a massive deficit and net debt to the next state election after delivering what could be her last budget.

Ms Giddings, who is also state treasurer, has revealed a deficit which blew out to $426 million in 2012/13, $143 million more than forecast.

The 2013/14 deficit is predicted to be $266 million, with a return to a negligible surplus put off from 2013/14 to 2016/17.

Tasmania will be $226 million in net debt in 2014, about $440 per person, which Ms Giddings argues is the lowest per capita figure in the country, but is believed to be a state record.

Delivering her third budget, the premier shied away from big cuts like the $1.4 billion she shaved in 2011/12, but also resisted sweeteners before the state election due in March and with her government languishing in the polls.

Tasmania's participation in DisabilityCare has been funded to the tune of $16.8 million, while $83 million has been provided to education over four years with the state expected to sign up to the Gonski school reforms.

"Reforms of this scale come with a significant price tag, but it is a price worth paying given the long-term social and economic benefits that they will deliver," Ms Giddings said.

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"It is a price that Tasmania would not have been able to countenance without the financial discipline we imposed two years ago."

Falling GST revenue of $100 million over four years, lower than expected returns from state taxes and decreased earnings from state-owned electricity businesses contributed to the bottom line, Ms Giddings said.

The devastating bushfires in January had cost the state about $45 million, she said.

The state's payroll tax exemption burden will be increased from $1 million to $1.25 million, benefiting more than 2000 businesses and paid for by the abolition of the $7000 first home buyers' grant for those buying existing dwellings.

Police will receive an extra $32 million over four years with recruitment only recently resuming following the cuts of two years ago.

Ms Giddings forecast a drop in unemployment from 7.4 per cent to 6.75, with 9000 jobs created across the forward estimates, and growth of two per cent in 2013/14.

"Treasury is now forecasting a more positive economic outlook, including a return to stronger dwelling investment, household spending, business investment and, most importantly, jobs growth," she said.